Growing trays

Make your own seed trays easily

Of course, you can buy your seed trays quite cheaply at a hardware store or online. But if you have the time and inclination, you can also easily make them yourself. Here's how!

Growing trays made from egg cartons

This is probably the easiest way to make seed trays. There's really only one requirement: The egg carton should be natural or uncolored, as otherwise color pigments could leach into the soil. Simply cut off the lid of the carton with a cutter and fill the trays with soil. You can also fill the lid with soil. Place it on a saucer or in a bowl, water, add the seeds, and you're done!

Growing trays made from toilet paper rolls

You can make two seed trays from a toilet paper roll. To do this, cut the roll in half crosswise, creating two cardboard tubes. To prevent the soil from falling out, you can add a base to each of them. To do this, cut four slits about 1.5 cm deep into one side of each cardboard tube. Then simply fold the resulting flaps inward, and you're done! Place them on a saucer or in a bowl, and the gardening can begin!

Seed trays made from empty milk cartons

Another great packaging option that you probably have around all the time: milk cartons. Lay the carton on its side and cut out one side completely with a cutter. To prevent waterlogging in the carton, poke small holes in the bottom on the opposite side. Then simply place it on a saucer, fill with soil, plant seeds, and look forward to the first sprouts!

Growing trays made of newspaper, cans and much more

As you can see, not all trash is created equal. Especially when gardening, it's worth thinking twice before throwing things away. Most things can be reused somehow. Seed trays are a great example of this. In addition to the ones just mentioned, there are many other ways to make them yourself. You'll quickly discover that your household, and especially your supposed trash, has the potential for many different seed trays. Get creative!